For the first time since I have begun writing, I am kind of disappointed at the lack of reviews I got on my last chapter. Granted I understand that people are busy or just like it the way it is, but I would appreciate the reviews. I am also surprised that no one guessed what the Lone Wolfs new weapon is or caught that I used a bit of Modern Warfare 2, but I'm not complaining.
Anyway, here is the second part of the Onderon Arc. Disclaimers are the same as before so please enjoy.
Chapter 3: Front Runners
May 3rd 2019, 20BBY
Iziz, Onderon
1200 hours
Normal point of view
A few days had past since the rebels infiltrated the capital and, in those days, had begun to utilize hit and run tactics on the droids that were occupying their home world. They even ambushed the royal carriage.
In those attacks, no civilians were killed but it soon became clear that the people were starting to become afraid of the rebels. Sanjay Rash naturally assumed that Ramsis Dendup, the former king was behind the growing rebellion but the old king continued to deny any involvement in the attacks and claimed that this was the will of the people.
Naturally, Sanjay refused to believe the former king and had increased patrols and tighten security around the checkpoints.
When Dendup returned to his chambers, he found much to his surprise a holotransmitter. The old activated the transmitter and appearing before him was the Lone Wolf. "Ramsis Dendup. If you're watching this than Rash still believes that you are involved with the rebellion to free your people. Do not listen to his lies about these so-called acts of terrorism, the real terrorist is the false king. It is with great sadness that I inform you that many of your people have been killed and dumped in a mass grave, many of them children."
Dendup was taken aback by this statement. He knew Sanjay was selfish and cruel but he never thought he was willing to conduct a mass murder of innocent people. "You may not believe me, but I assure you I saw this with my own eyes. Rest assured, these 'terrorists' are only fighting for freedom. They do so in your name but under their own will. Someday you will be king again and when people ask who liberated your world, it was a few 'ordinary joes.' The recording said before vanishing.
Back in the city, the rebels returned to their safe house and soon the situation was made clear to them.
"Judging from the reactions I saw today, I'm afraid they will mistake your intentions." Obi-Wan surmised after hearing Ahsoka's report.
"Then we need to do more damage. A few broken-down droids will do little to free Onderon." Saw said frustrated. "Even the smallest victories can have the desired outcome. But the General is correct, you need the support of the people or else this effort will be meaningless." Robert said in agreement.
"The Lieutenants right. If they're afraid of us, they won't support us. We need to assure them of our intentions." Lux stated. Saw however couldn't understand why the people were afraid until Steela summarized that the people believed they weren't strong enough to win against the droid army and they needed to earn their trust.
"Hearts and Minds will win the day, but its worthless if one of you steps out of line." Robert said before leaving the safehouse with Obi-Wan and the others.
"I think they're ready to give the 501st some competition Captain." Barney chuckled. "Let's not get carried away General, though these rebels have impressed me." Rex answered.
"We will share the developments with the council. Ahsoka and Robert will remain here as advisors, monitor the situation and report back their progress." Obi-Wan stated.
"Not to burst your bubble, but aren't we forgetting about the mass grave I found two days ago?" Robert reminded the Jedi master. "We haven't forgotten, that's one of the things we're going to report to the council. Just remember if the rebels need some armor support we will deny any knowledge of your involvement." Anakin remined him.
"Lets just hope it doesn't come to that." Robert muttered to himself. He had a feeling he was going to fire up Grizzly soon.
"We'll continue to provide supplies and credits, but they need to learn to operate on their own, their survival depends on it." Obi-Wan before he, Rex, Anakin and Barney left Ahsoka and Robert.
"Come on. We may not be able to help the rebels, but at least we can offer them assistance in planning their operations. Plus, I bet you would look pretty hot in Kunoichi gear." Robert said before reentering the safe-house, leaving Ahsoka, with her lekku darkening outside.
Back in the room he and Ahsoka were sharing, Robert took off his armor and placed on the gear he wore on the Zygerria mission before exiting the room and followed Ahsoka, Lux, Steela and Saw to the market. Lux's target was a power generator.
Through her scope, Steela watched as a squad of droids exited the generator and began their patrol. "This power generator feeds substations all across the city. We hit that, the grid will fall." Lux said.
"How does that help us? Battle droids are no longer linked to central control, they operate individually." Steela remined Lux. "You both are right. But droids still need power to recharge." Robert piped in.
"If we take out this facility, it will knock out the power grid and it will only be a matter of time until the droid army is brought to a standstill, literally." Lux commented. "If you carry out your plan out by knight fall, you'll maximize your strike capability." Ahsoka inputted.
"Okay, so now we need to figure out how to destroy the power station." Steela admitted. "We need to do more surveillance." Lux added. "Those droids should have all the intel we need stored up in those tin cans of theirs, right? Then I'll go get us one." Saw said.
Before anyone could stop him, Saw slid off the roof and waited in a nearby alley as a droid patrol came nearer and nearer to his location. Targeting the last droid, he said "Hey, Clanker." And ripped the droids head off before it could sound the alarm.
Returning to the others, Lux used the mobile decrypter he brought with him and a hologram of the power station was brought before them. "Sentries at every access point, inside and out." Saw commented.
"We can't sustain combat against their numbers." Lux agreed. "But our size makes us perfect for mobility and surprise. We need something with heavy firepower to if we are to blow up the facility, like a launcher." She suggested before turning to Robert. "Didn't bring the BFG with me and even if I did, its off limits. But there is another way." He said.
"If we give enough trouble, they'll be forced to call in reinforcements." Lux said, figuring out what Robert was talking about. "Like a tank." Steela responded.
"Exactly. The old trojan horse maneuver. While two of you guys pilot the tank, Steela can provide overwatch while you commence the hijack." Robert stated. "And then we use their own weapon against them…" Steela began. "And bring the droid army to its knees." Lux finished.
Ahsoka looked to Robert who nodded and with Ahsoka's approval the began to make their plans.
Nighttime came fast. City lights helped the people who out and about see their way. Two people were walking when they spotted the rebels, who motioned for them to be quiet before they fled the area. As the couple left, Dono one of the rebels they trained stopped a speeder which was ready to blow the moment the droids arrived and ran until she was at a safe distance.
From across the street, Steela, Lux, Saw, Robert and Ahsoka waited as a patrol came towards the speeder. One last minute slip up could mean disaster. "Remember the plan. We attack this patrol, and hopefully they will call for a tank." Lux instructed.
"And what if they don't call for a tank?" One rebel asked. "Then its game over man." Robert said to the rebel. "Just relax and you'll do find."
The droids passed the speeder and no sooner about half of them passed, Dono triggered the bomb and short circuited a good portion of the droids before the others emerged and brief firefight began. Using what they learned, the rebels quickly dispatched the patrol leaving only the commander left who called for back up before Steela snipped the poor scraphead. "Let's hope they send a tank." Ahsoka said rushing out to the scene with Robert behind her.
The moment they arrived, both of them heard the familiar rolling sound heading towards them. "Hear that?" she asked her boyfriend who drew his new rifle from his back. "Yeah, and it doesn't sound like Unicrons Dead End Drones." He replied before pulling the slide on his rifle.
"They've sent Destroyers, Move!" She called as two destroyer droids uncurled and began to fire on the rebels and their advisors. Igniting her sabers, Ahsoka deflected shot after shot while the rebels fired back with their current firepower. Robert was about to fire, when he spotted a swarm of terror droids approaching them from behind. "WE GOT A SWARM ON OUR ASS!" he yelled before firing quick bursts at the oncoming terror weapons.
"We're not gonna last long unless we take out those Destroyers." Saw said to Lux. "We need to…" Lux began before a terror droid leapt onto him and began to try and kill him. He struggled to get the droid off but it was too powerful. As the droid prepared to impale him, a knife was thrown at the weapon, destroying it. "Sorry, one got past me." Robert said as he reclaimed his knife.
"We need to get behind them. Let's go Bonteri." Saw stated before the two headed down the street behind them and came out behind the destroyers. They were only able to take out one of the destroyers before they were saved by Steela.
"Well that's one way to take down a destroyer." Ahsoka said surprised. "We all have to adapt." Steela replied. "Love to stay and chat, but your tank has arrived." Robert stated before he jumped up on top of one of the buildings and sprinted towards the power station, while Ahsoka and the others captured the tank.
Roberts point of view
These rebels would give the Viet Cong a run for their money. Instead of causing a lot of destruction, they were focusing their efforts on taking down the droids and leaving the civilians unharmed. Rash and the droids call them terrorists, others call them heroes but I call them ordinary Joes.
Reaching the vantage point overlooking the power station. I slung my rifle over and took out the DC17 I brought with us and configured it to sniper mode. The moment I had assembled the rifle, the captured tank came into view and I began to provide overwatch.
I was told not to fight in their war, but this wasn't fighting. More like providing a helping hand. Through my scope I watched Steela and Ahsoka run towards a small building which Steela positioned herself on and began to pick off the droids at the main gate. She was a decent marksman, probably give Chris Kyle a run for his money. Each target she hit was a clean kill. Lux found himself quiet a woman. I turned my own rifle towards a super battle droid and was about to fire when I spotted a group of unknown soldiers approaching the area. "Guys, does Onderon have a private army we don't know about?" I asked into the commlink.
I didn't need to wait long before these unknowns began to open fire on Steela forcing her to turn her attention on these guys. I lined up my rifle and fired a single shot at one of them, killing them. Even from a distance I could tell there was something familiar about these guys as I watched from the corner of eye Saw and Lux run down several droids with their tank.
"Grand Theft Auto much." I chuckled to myself as I downed another one of these mysterious attackers before Steela downed the last one. At that moment, Saw blasted the gates open and a squad of commando droids came rushing out towards them. I shifted my rifle towards the commandos and provided covering fire while the tanks cannon began to recharge. I would have helped, but Steela and Lux had the situation under control.
I jumped off the building just as Saw destroyed the generators and a shock wave blacked out the entire city as the three rebels left the tank as Ahsoka put on her night vison googles. "Looks like all that training is paying off." She said as we examined one of the dead bodies.
"This guy a Mandalorian. I've seen him before, he's part of Tarkins Fist, all of these guys are. What are they doing here?" I asked before noticing that the others were Trandoshan, Rodian, Twi'lek and Human. Each of them with a prisoner number on their arms.
"I don't think command knew about this, but we better hide the bodies." Ahsoka said and picked up one of the dead bodies. "Or, we plant them on the tank and at the ambush point and pin the blame on Tarkin. Get the attention off the rebels and onto that bastard." I suggested. "I'm not sure it's a good idea, but we need to inform the council about this piece." She said before running off back to the safe house. I just planted the bodies on the tank and followed her. Something was rotten in Denmark and I had to get to the bottom of this.
Normal point of view
All across the city the rebels attacked any droid patrol they came across and the citizens saw them as heroes. Some citizens even torched an MTT. All and all, the rebels were glad their effort had succeeded.
Back at the safehouse the rebels were celebrating their success. "We must celebrate." Steela admitted to which Saw lifted her up and spun around for a moment before she went over and much to everyone's surprise kissed Lux good and long. "Hey, you two love birds can make out later. Some of us just want to celebrate." Hutch shouted.
"They look happy together." Ahsoka whispered to Robert. "Yeah they do. I'm happy for them." he admitted.
"Steela is a born leader." Rex said having seen the brief moment between the two and couldn't help but think of Cassie. "And quite courageous, I hear." Obi-Wan added. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. You may have won the peoples trust but this new development is certainly something to be concerned about." Anakin inputted. After hearing that members of Tarkins forces were on the planet and attacked the rebels, he was a bit concerned about what was going on.
"This latest development will get the separatists attention. They will respond harshly and stop at nothing to find you, you must adapt and continue to confront then an liberate Onderon." Obi-Wan stated.
Saw responded with a Gung-Ho attitude which made Steela agree with him. "Now, you need to rally the people. You will need their support, your ability to influence them will also determine your capacity to represent them, not only on the battlefield but off of it against your enemies, even within your own ranks, your commitment to inspire others, your conviction will lead to victory." Anakin instructed, being followed by Obi-Wan to select a leader for the people to rally behind before their holograms faded.
But with their success, came consequence. After contacting Dark Star and demanding better reinforcements, King Rash was told that among the reinforcements he would be receiving, a Super Tactical Droid named Kalani would be sent to succeed where Rash had failed.
The rebels on the other hand had upon the nomination by Dono, had elected Steela as their leader much to the dismay of Saw who was later revealed to be Steela's brother. "Didn't see that one coming." Robert said as he prepared to turn in for the night.
He was about to fall asleep when Ahsoka entered the room. "Come on, we may be a couple but we aren't going to do anything that 'intimate' yet." Robert said before moving over and making room for his girlfriend before quickly falling asleep.
Meanwhile, on Alderaan Barriss was meditating when she began to see something that made her very concerned. "They're in danger." She said.
Third chapter complete, sorry about the earlier ramble like I was upset with not getting many reviews last chapter, I understand. For those who didn't realize it, my characters new weapon is the M41A Pulse Rifle from Aliens and the AVP games, but with some changes like the Morita. Would you like me to bring in the M56 smart gun?
Looks like things on Onderon are starting to heat up and a new player has entered the game. Will the events be the same as the show, or will I make it so it fits the way I and many others wanted to see it end? Find out as the story continues. Please read and review. The new Predator movie is out in a few days. Anyone who's a fan of that movie better be ready because from the trailers it looks awesome.